Method for enhancing passenger comfort on a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A seating pad assembly is provided for use by travelers to increase the comfort for a seat on a public transportation vehicle or at a public transit terminal. A system and method for ordering the seating pad assembly for a transportation seat includes at least one terminal configured for entering an identifier indicative of a type of transportation seat purchased, e.g., a class of service; a server configured for receiving the identifier, determining dimensions of the seating pad assembly based on the identifier, and generating an order to acquire the determined seating pad assembly; and a communications network for coupling the at least one terminal and the server. The terminal may be configured in the form of a computer, a kiosk or a mobile terminal. The system will allow a purchaser of a transportation seat to either purchase or rent the seating pad assembly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/728,788,filed Mar. 27, 2007 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 11/602,058, filed Nov. 20, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,461,894 whichin turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Appl. No.60/738,618 filed Nov. 21, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method to make a vehicle seat morecomfortable.

2. Description of the Related Art

Travel on public transportation, such as planes, trains and buses, israrely comfortable and can be extremely uncomfortable on long trips. Thelength of time after which a seat will be considered comfortable varieswidely based on the characteristics of the seat and sensitivity of thetraveler. Many travelers become extremely uncomfortable after an hour ortwo on a transportation seat, especially since seats intended forshorter trips generally do not recline or recline only a small amount.On the other hand, intercontinental flights can last in excess of twelvehours and are common for many business people. Most business travelershave little time for recovery at either end of a business trip, and areexpected to be alert and functioning for a business meeting shortlyafter their arrival. Vacation travelers suffer from the sameinconveniences as business travelers and are likely to require aconsiderable recovery time before being able to enjoy the vacation.Uncomfortable travel is not limited to airlines. In particular, trips ona train or bus can take longer than an intercontinental airline trip.Travel related discomfort also is not limited to the time spent on thevehicle. More particularly, travelers often spend hours in veryuncomfortable seats at an airline, train or bus terminal while they arewaiting for a transfer or a delayed departure. Seats at a terminal oftenare less comfortable than seats on a plane, train or bus. For example,terminal seats often have a large gap between the hip/thigh support andthe back support and may be formed from a hard rigid plastic.

Most long distance travelers take steps to minimize the discomfort andinconveniences of travel. For example, some long distance travelersadapt a regimen of sleeping, eating and drinking for several days priorto a trip in an effort to make the travel more comfortable. Longdistance travelers also may adopt specific regimens during the flight inan effort to minimize discomfort. For example, many travelers utilizesleep-inducing medication either shortly before the start of a trip orpartway into the trip. Airline personnel frequently distribute pillows,blankets, slippers and eye shades a short time into the flight.

The seats on planes and surface vehicles intended for long distancetravel recline to enhance comfort. Most airlines and trains providedifferent levels of seating that are offered at different costs.Business class seats generally are wider than coach seats and generallyrecline more. First class seats may be wider still, and some first classseats recline to a full horizontal position. However, all recliningseats necessary include several movable components that enable the seatto be adjusted between a fully erect condition and at least a partlyreclined condition. FIGS. 1 through 3 show a typical prior art airlineseat similar to those used in business class or first class sections ofa airplane. The prior art seat is identified generally by the numeral100 in FIGS. 1 through 3 and includes a hip/thigh support 102 disposedbetween arm rests 104. The hip/thigh support 102 of the prior art seat100 has a width “w” of between about 18 inches and 27 inches, dependingon the airline and the class of service (i.e. coach, business or firstclass). A back support 106 is hinged to the hip/thigh support 102 andcan move between a substantially erect condition, as shown in FIG. 1,and a partly reclined position, as shown in FIG. 2. A fully reclinedposition, as shown in FIG. 3, is provided for first class seats on someairlines. The typical prior art seat 100 has a length “l” of betweenabout 70 inches and 76 inches. A gap 108 necessarily is provided betweenthese two hinged supports 102 and 106 to accommodate the relativemovement. The seat 100 also may have a foot rest 110 that is hingedrelative to the hip/thigh support 102, and a similar gap 112 existsbetween the hip/thigh support 102 and the foot rest 110. Furthermore,other cracks, creases and seams 114, 116, 118 and 120 exist at otherlocations on the hip/thigh support 102 and the back support 106. Stillother structurally uneven areas (e.g. frame members and other structuralsupports) exist beneath the cover of the seat 100, and contribute topassenger discomfort even though they are not visible. The gaps 108 and112 and other cracks, creases and seams 114-120 may be barely noticeableon a short trip. However, the gaps 108, 112 and other cracks, creasesand seams 114-120 that are wider than about 1 cm and/or deeper thanabout 1 cm become very bothersome on long trips. In this regard, thegaps 108, 112 and other significant surface discontinuities 114-120define pinch points into which bodily tissue will be squeezed due to theweight of the body. Pressure on the body at these pinch points may behigher, thereby impeding blood flow and creating discomfort at and nearthe surface of the skin. Long distance travelers frequently move andshift their bodily weight to reduce discomfort. However, such movementcreates pulling and friction as the bodily tissue is extracted from thepinch points and as new areas of bodily tissue are urged into the pinchpoints. Furthermore, all vehicles vibrate during movement, and thevibration contributes significantly to discomfort generated at the pinchpoints even when the passenger does not attempt to move voluntarily.

The seat covers on most public transportation seats are designed to bedurable and easily cleaned. These requirements often compete with thepassenger's desire for comfort. A fabric that will last long and cleaneasily often is not comfortable for an extended period of time. Manypublic transportation seats are designed to provide a pronounced andsomewhat rigid lumber support to align with the lower back and a bulginghead support near the top end of the back rest. These features often addto comfort when the passenger is sitting in an erect position. However,these same features contribute to discomfort when the passenger reclinesthe seat for sleep.

Virtually all public transportation seats include arm rests and someinclude forwardly projecting privacy wing on opposite sides of the backrest. The arm rest and wings are intended to prevent intrusion by anadjacent passenger. These fairly rigid and highly function componentscan lead to discomfort when the seat is reclined so that the passengercan sleep.

The prior art include many types of formed pillows that are intended tosupport certain areas of the body. For example, U-shaped pillows areused to support the back of the neck. Other uniquely configured pillowsare intended to support the feet, the rear side of the knees or areasbetween the knees.

Generally rectangular mats are used in many Asian cultures for sleepingor for performing Yoga. These mats tend to be formed from thinrelatively inelastic materials that are not suitable for bodycushioning. Mats of this type generally have length and width dimensionscorresponding approximately to the length and width dimensions of a bed.The mats typically are sufficiently flexible to be folded or rolled forstorage between uses.

Viscoelastic materials and memory foam are terms used to define avariety of open cell flexible polyurethane foams, and have been used formattresses, mattress toppers and pillows for years. More particularly,the lower surface of the viscoelastic foam will be placed on a generallyflat horizontal supporting surface, such as a box spring or mattress.The upper surface of the viscoelastic foam will mold closely to thecontour of an object or body placed thereon. The viscoelastic foam thenwill return slowly to an undeformed shape when the object or body isremoved or repositioned. In contrast, conventional foamed rubber willcompress quickly in response to an applied load and will return quicklyupon removal of the load. Furthermore, the compressed conventionalfoamed rubber will not conform to the shape of the applied load and willnot distribute forces of the applied load. Viscoelastics have not beenused in public transportation seating, presumably in view of costconsiderations and yield characteristics that are not conducive torequirements for a public transportation seat in the normally erectorientation.

In view of the above, it is object of the subject invention to provideimprovements to the comfort for public transit seating, particularlyseating intended for long distance travel.

It is a further object of the subject invention to provide a publictransportation seating improvement well suited for use and carrying by atraveler.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a seating pad assembly for use with a publictransportation seat and to the combination of a seating pad assembly anda public transportation seat. The invention also relates to a method forenhancing the comfort of a public transportation seat. The publictransportation seat preferably is an airline seat, but may also be aseat employed on trains, buses and other land vehicles. The seatincludes a generally horizontal hip and thigh support and a seat backpivotally mounted to the hip and thigh support. The seat may furtherinclude a foot rest. The seat back and/or the foot rest preferably aremounted for pivoting relative to the hip and thigh support. Accordingly,seams, cracks, creases, gaps or spaces exist between the foot rest andthe hip/thigh support and between the back rest and the hip/thighsupport. Some of these gaps exceed 1 cm in width and/or depth. The seatmay further include arm rests spaced from one another by approximatelythe width of the seat. The spacing between the arm rests, and hence thewidth of the seat, may vary in accordance with the mode oftransportation and the class of service. The seat may further includesafety belts for securing the passenger in the seat.

The seating pad assembly may be generally rectangular and preferably hasa width corresponding approximately to the width of the seat. The widthof the seating pad assembly preferably is selected in accordance withthe class of travel. For example, a seating pad assembly for economytravel preferably is about sixteen inches wide, while a seating padassembly for business or first class travel preferably is about twentyinches wide. The seating pad assembly also preferably has a lengthapproximately equal to the sum of the length of the hip/thigh supportand the length of the back support, particularly for coach class travel.Specifically, the seating pad assembly for economy class travelpreferably is at least about 42 inches long and preferably about 47inches long. Additionally, the seating pad assembly may include a footrest extension with a length approximately equal to the length of thefoot rest on the public transit seat and particularly for business orfirst class airline seats. Specifically, the seating pad assembly forbusiness or first class travel preferably is about 60 inches long andpreferably about 72 inches long. Additionally, the seating pad assemblypreferably has a thickness of between 1.0-2.0 inch, and most preferablyabout 1.00 inch.

The seating pad assembly comprises a substantially rectangular cushionthat preferably consists of viscoelastic material. The viscoelasticcushion preferably has width, length and thickness dimensionscorresponding to the overall width, length and thickness dimensions forthe assembly, as set forth above. Additionally, the viscoelastic cushionpreferably has a density and hardness or firmness to support a travelercomfortably across all locations on the seat, including across theseams, gaps and other pinch points between adjacent movable parts of theseat, including those that are at least 1 cm across and at least 1 cmdeep. In this regard, the density, firmness, resiliency and thickness ofthe viscoelastic cushion are selected so that lower areas of theviscoelastic cushion will flow into and conform to the gaps and otherpinch points, thereby creating a substantially smooth surface forsupporting the traveler. Furthermore, these density, firmness,resiliency and thickness characteristics of the viscoelastic cushion areselected to ensure that the weight of the traveler will be distributedand supported by upper parts of the viscoelastic cushion without abottoming out that would occur if the viscoelastic cushion was deformedmaximally. Thus, the viscoelastic cushion isolates the traveler from thebothersome pinch points. Furthermore, the viscoelastic material isextremely effective at absorbing the vibrations that are inherent invehicular travel, and hence isolates the traveler from those vibrations.As noted above, vibrations contribute to discomfort, particularly nearthe pinch points formed in the seat.

The seating pad assembly further includes a cover assembly mounted overthe viscoelastic cushion. At least a portion of the cover assemblypreferably is removable for laundering or replacement. The coverassembly preferably is stretchable or sufficiently loose to deformeasily into gaps or other pinch points defined in the seat. Thus, thecover assembly will not restrict or limit the ability of theviscoelastic material to flow or otherwise conform to the shapes of theseat and the traveler, and the nonrestrictive cover assembly will moveeasily with the viscoelastic material as the viscoelastic materialchanges its shape. The cover assembly preferably includes an innerscreen layer preferably formed from a synthetic material, such as nylonthat contributes to the protection and support of the viscoelasticcushion. The inner screen layer need not be removable. The coverassembly also preferably includes an inner protective cover that may befluid resistant, stain resistant, antimicrobial and/or moisture wicking.The inner protective cover prevents permanent damage to the viscoelasticpad. Preferably, the inner cover has a zipper or other closure means topermit the inner cover to be removed from the viscoelastic pad forlaundering or replacement. The cover assembly also includes an outercover that preferably is formed from a material that is fluid resistant,stain resistant antimicrobial and moisture wicking. Additionally, theouter cover is formed from a material, such as cotton or a brushedsynthetic fabric that will be comfortable to the passenger. In someinstances, the cover may be imprinted or embroidered with indicia toidentify an airline or other public transit provider or to identify theowner or source of the seating pad assembly. The outer cover also has azipper or other closure means to permit the outer cover to be removedfor laundering or replacement. The closure for the outer cover may beoffset from the closure for the inner cover. The outer cover also mayinclude a strap for releasably securing the seating pad assembly in arolled condition for easy storage and carrying through an airport orother transit terminal. The strap also can be used to hold the seatingpad assembly on a seat.

The seating pad assembly may include means for releasable attachment tothe public transportation seat. For example, a snapped attachment can beprovided for releasable engagement with snaps provided on the top of theseat back. In other situations, the seating pad assembly may be providedwith notches or apertures for receiving a seat belt.

The seating pad assembly may further include or may be used with acarrying bag. The carrying bag has a selectively closable end. Theselectively closable end may have a flap, a draw string or the like. Thecarrying bag may further include a strap or a loop to carry the bag overthe shoulder or to facilitate mounting and transportation of the bag andseating pad assembly on a rolling piece of luggage or to a backpack.

The seating pad assembly can be transported to an airport, train stationor the like by a passenger. The passenger need merely remove the seatingpad assembly from the bag and position the seating pad assembly on theseat before the person sits down. Thus, the seating pad assembly is notone of the pieces of carry-on luggage that must be stored in an overheadcompartment. The passenger then can assume a normal sitting posture tohold the pad in place. Controls on the seat can be utilized to move theseat into a reclined condition at an appropriate time during the trip,if desired and if such controls are available. The seating pad assemblywill extend continuously across seams and/or creases between the movableparts of the seat and will conform to the shapes of both the seat andthe passenger to maximize comfort. The cover assembly will not restrictthe flowing deformation of the viscoelastic material, and hence thecover will not affect the conformal characteristics of both the upperand lower areas of the viscoelastic material. Additionally, the seatingpad assembly can be dimensioned to provide lateral support between thepassenger and arm rests.

A method for ordering a seating pad assembly for a transportation seatis provided. The method includes receiving an identifier indicative of atype of transportation seat purchased; determining dimensions of theseating pad assembly based on the type of transportation seat purchased;generating an order to acquire the determined seating pad assembly; andfulfilling the generated order to complete acquisition of the seatingpad assembly. The identifier may be a class of service, e.g., coach,business class or first class of an airline seat. The method furtherincludes receiving a second identifier indicative of a transportationseat provider and selecting a cover assembly for the seating padassembly bearing an indicia of the transportation seat provider.

The seating pad assembly can either be purchased or rented for apredetermined purchase amount. In certain embodiments, frequent fliersmiles may be used for the predetermined purchased amount.

A system for ordering a seating pad assembly for a transportation seatincludes at least one terminal configured for entering an identifierindicative of a type of transportation seat purchased; a serverconfigured for receiving the identifier, determining dimensions of theseating pad assembly based on the identifier, and generating an order toacquire the determined seating pad assembly; and a communicationsnetwork for coupling the at least one terminal and the server. The atleast one terminal may be configured as a computer, a kiosk or a mobileterminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art seat in an erect condition.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the prior art seat in a partly reclinedcondition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the prior art seat in a fully reclinedcondition.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a seating padassembly in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an end portion of the seating padassembly with the outer cover removed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a side portion of the seating padassembly showing the zipper closure for the outer cover.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a corner of the seating pad assembly andshowing one of the closure straps in an extended condition.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a corner of the seating padassembly and showing the extended closure strap.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the seating pad assembly in a partlyrolled condition.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the seating pad assembly in a fullyrolled condition for storage.

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of a carrying bag for use with therolled seating pad assembly of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the rolled seating pad assembly storedin the carrying bag of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a person carrying the rolled seatingpad assembly stored in the carrying bag.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the rolled seating pad assembly storedin the carrying bag and secured on a piece of rolling luggage.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the seating pad assembly of FIGS. 5-11positioned on the fully erect airline seat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the seating pad assembly of FIGS. 5-11positioned on the partly reclined airline seat of FIG. 2.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the seating pad assembly of FIGS. 5-11positioned on the fully relined airline seat of FIG. 3.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 19-19 in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is an exemplary system for ordering a seating pad assembly inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A seating pad assembly in accordance with the subject invention isidentified generally by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 5 through 12. Theseating pad assembly includes 10 an inner viscoelastic foam cushion 12formed from and consisting essentially of a viscoelastic material, suchas those that are available from several commercial sources, includingTEMPUR-PEDIC. The seating pad assembly 10 is generally rectangular andhas a length L and a width W as shown in FIG. 4. The length and widthdimensions L and W will vary in accordance with the class of service forwhich the seating pad assembly 10 is being marketed. In particular,first class airline seats often are wider than business class and someseats include footrests that extend longitudinally as the seat isreclined. In a preferred embodiment, the seating pad assembly 10 has awidth W of approximately 16 inches for economy class seats andapproximately 20 inches for business or first class seats. These widthsenable the seating pad assembly 10 to occupy a major portion of thewidth “w” of the targeted seat. However, other seating pad assemblies 10may be slightly narrower or slightly wider. The length L of the seatingpad assembly 10 also will vary in accordance with the class of travelservice for which the seating pad assembly 10 is purchased and marketed.In a preferred embodiment, the seating pad assembly 10 has a length L ofapproximately 42 inches for economy class seats, a length L ofapproximately 47 inches for business class seats and a length L ofapproximately 60 inches to 72 inches for first class seats. However,seating pad assemblies 10 with a length L as small as about 40 incheswill achieve many of the benefits described herein, particularly forshort trips where the seat does not recline and with respect to the mostobjectionable gap 108 between the hip/thigh support 102 and the backsupport 106 of the prior art seat 100.

The viscoelastic inner cushion 12 of the seating pad assembly 10 has athickness “T” as shown in FIG. 5. The thickness “T” preferably is in therange of 1.0-1.5 inch, and most preferably is approximately 1.0 inch tofacilitate storage and carrying. However, the ability of the innercushion 12 to be transported easily and to provide the necessary comfortfor long distance travel also depends on the density of the viscoelasticfoam. A viscoelastic foam with a density of 3 lbs/cubic foot to 8lbs/per cubic foot and a thickness T of 1.0-1.5 inch has been found toprovide comfortable support across the gaps 108 and other surfacediscontinuities of the prior art airline seat while still being easilytransportable. However, a viscoelastic inner cushion 12 with a densityof 5 lbs/cubic foot and a thickness T of 1.0 inch has been found toprovide very good levels of comfort and very desirable storage andcarrying characteristics, as explained herein. The viscoelastic innercushion 12 also should have a firmness that permits the viscoelasticinner cushion 12 to conform to the shape of the seat 100 and to thepassenger without bottoming out. Thus, the viscoelastic cushion 12 willredistribute the weight and surface pressure of the passenger.

The seating pad assembly 10 further includes a cover assembly 14 thatsubstantially completely encloses the viscoelastic cushion 12. In thisregard, the viscoelastic foam material of the cushion 12 is notcomfortable for direct long term contact by the traveler. Additionally,the viscoelastic foam of the cushion 12 is not well suited for soil orstain resistance and could become unsightly after several uses.Furthermore, viscoelastic foam cushions are not aestheticallyattractive, even when clean. The cover assembly 14, on the other hand,can be made from relatively inexpensive materials that are comfortablefor direct long term contact by the traveler.

The cover assembly 14 includes an inner screen layer 15 that completelysurrounds the viscoelastic cushion 12. The inner screen layer 15preferably is a thin gauge mesh formed from synthetic fibers, such asnylon, that will protect the viscoelastic cushion 12 when other parts ofthe cover assembly 14 are removed for cleaning, maintenance orreplacement. Additionally, the inner screen layer 15 is stretchableand/or sufficiently loose to permit substantially unrestricteddeformation and/or flow of the viscoelastic cushion 12 into the pinchpoints on the seat 100.

The cover assembly 14 further includes an inner cover 16 removablymounted over the inner screen layer 15 and the viscoelastic cushion 12.The inner cover 16 is formed from a fluid resistant, stain resistantmaterial with moisture wicking and antimicrobial characteristics such asa stretchable knitted fabric made from a blend of cotton and syntheticfabric. Additionally, the inner cover 16 includes an inner closure 16 z,such as a zipper, that extends across one end edge and adjacent sideedges of the inner cover 16. The inner closure 16 z enables the innercover 16 to be separated from the viscoelastic cushion 12 for cleaning,maintenance or replacement.

The cover assembly 14 further includes an outer cover 18 that isremovably mounted over the inner cover 16. The outer cover 18 is formedfrom a fluid resistant, stain resistant material with moisture wickingand antimicrobial characteristics. For example, the outer cover 14 canbe formed from a stretchable woven cotton fabric (300-1000 thread count)or a brush knit fabric that is soft to the touch and comfortable evenafter a long term of contact. More particularly, the outer cover 14 canbe formed from materials that are commonly used on bed sheets.Furthermore, the outer cover 14 can be made aesthetically attractive andcan be printed with indicia to identify the owner of the cushion or topromote a particular trademark. For example, the indicia can be the nameof an airline that sells the pad assembly 10 to frequent travelers.Alternatively, the indicia can be the trademark of the employer of thetraveler.

The outer cover 18 includes an outer closure 18 z, such as a zipper,that extends along a major part of one side edge of the outer cover 18.The outer closure 18 z enables the outer cover 18 to be separated fromthe viscoelastic cushion 12 and the inner closure 16 for cleaning,maintenance or replacement.

Two straps 20 are secured to portions of the outer cover 17 adjacent onelongitudinal end and extend longitudinally beyond the outer cover 18, asshown most clearly in FIGS. 8-10. Portions of each strap 20 sewn orotherwise secured to the outer cover 18 have an array of Velcro loops 22facing away from the outer cover 18. A mating array of Velcro hooks 24are provided on the opposite side of each strap 20 at the end of thestrap 20 remote from the outer cover 18. The straps 20 enable theseating pad assembly 10 to be secured in the rolled configuration ofFIG. 11.

The seating pad assembly 10 also can be used with a carrying bag 30, asshown in FIGS. 12-15. The carrying bag 30 has a closed bottom end 32 andan open top end 34. A draw string 36 is incorporated into a hem adjacentthe open top end 34. The carrying bag 30 also includes a carrying strap38. In the collapsed condition shown in FIG. 12, the carrying bag 30 isa generally flat rectangle. However, the carrying bag 30 can be openedto receive the seating pad assembly 10 that has been rolled into thecoil shown in FIG. 11. This combination of the seating pad assembly 10and the carrying bag 30 is illustrated in FIG. 13. The carrying strap 38can be suspended from the shoulder of the traveler while travelingbetween flights or destinations, as shown in FIG. 14. Alternatively, thecarrying strap 38 can be looped over the handle of a roll-on piece ofluggage, as shown in FIG. 15 or can be attached to a backpack. A pocketcan be provided in the carrying bag 30 to carry travel documents,identification cards or the like.

The seating pad assembly 10 is used by opening the draw string 28 nearthe top 26 of the carrying bag 22 and removing the rolled seating padassembly 10 from the carrying bag 22. The straps 20 then are opened andthe seating pad assembly 10 is unrolled from the FIG. 10 condition tothe FIG. 4 condition. The open seating pad assembly 10 then is placed onthe seat 100 substantially as shown in FIG. 15-17 before the travelersits down. Thus, the seating pad assembly 10 is not part of the carry onluggage that must be stowed, and effectively becomes a temporary part ofthe seat 100. One longitudinal end the seating pad assembly 10 ispositioned near the top of the seat back support 106. The remainder ofthe seating pad assembly 10 extends from the top of the back support 106across the gap 108 between the hip/thigh support 102 and the backsupport 106 and towards or to the leg rest 110. The extent of theseating pad assembly 10 to or towards the leg rest 110 will depend uponthe overall length L of the pad assembly 10 relative to the length “l”of the seat 100. In preferred embodiments, the seating pad assembly 10will be sufficiently long to extend completely to the end of the legrest 110 farthest from the hip/thigh support 102. Some seats 100 have afootrest 114 that telescopes or otherwise extends longitudinally awayfrom the hip/thigh support 102 as the seat 100 is moved into the fullyreclined condition. In this situation, one longitudinal end portion ofthe seating pad assembly 10 may be tucked between the remainder of theseating pad assembly 10 and the leg rest 110 to define a flap 34, asshown in FIGS. 15 and 16. However, the flap 34 can be unfolded as theseat 100 moves into the fully reclined condition shown most clearly inFIG. 17 so that the flap 34 can be disposed on the footrest 114.

As noted above, the width W of the seating pad assembly 10 preferably isin the range of 16-20 inches, and hence will fit conveniently betweenthe armrests 104 of the seat 100 without creating potentiallyobjectionable bulges or bumps.

The seating pad assembly 10 extends continuously across theobjectionable gap 108 between the hip/thigh support 102 and the backsupport 106. The viscoelastic cushion 12 responds to both ambienttemperature (60-75 F) and body temperature for conforming to the shapeof the passenger for providing three dimensional support for thepassenger when the seat is erect, partially reclined and fully reclined.The thickness T of the viscoelastic cushion 12 and the density andfirmness of the viscoelastic foam of the cushion 12 enable the travelerto be supported comfortably across rigid structures in the seat 100, aswell as across the gap 108 between the hip/thigh support 102 and theback support 106. Thus, the conformal nature of the viscoelastic cushion12 avoids the objectionable sensations caused by the gap 108 when atraveler is sitting erect or attempting to relax in the reclinedcondition of the seat 100, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. Furthermore, theviscoelastic foam of the cushion 12 is extremely effective at absorbingtravel-related vibrations and associated micromovements of the seat 100and the passenger. These vibration-related micromovements contributesignificantly to passenger discomfort and are dampened very effectivelyby the viscoelastic cushion 12.

The ability of the seating pad assembly 10 to achieve these objectivesis dependent partly upon the thickness T and the characteristics of theviscoelastic cushion 12. As explained above, the preferred cushion 12 isformed from a viscoelastic foam with a density in the range of 50-120kg/m³, with a preferred density of about 85 kg/m³. Additionally, thepreferred viscoelastic material has a hardness or firmness of about 10N. Viscoelastic materials with these specifications and with a thicknessT of about 1 inch have proven to provide high levels of comfort withlittle or no sensory evidence of the gap 108, hard structural supportsof the seat 100 or the vibrations of the vehicle regardless of whetherthe seat 100 is erect, reclined or partly reclined. In this regard, thedensity, firmness, resiliency and thickness of the viscoelastic cushion12 enable lower surface 12L of the viscoelastic cushion 12 to flow intoand conform to the gap 108 and other pinch points, as shown in FIG. 19,thereby creating a convex lower conformal area 12LC and a substantiallysmooth uniform upper surface 12U for facing the traveler. The coverassembly is sufficiently stretchable and/or loose to permit theviscoelastic material 12 to flow or conform substantially unimpeded intothe potential pinch points and around hard points. Furthermore, thedensity, hardness, firmness, resiliency and thickness characteristics ofthe viscoelastic cushion 12 ensure that weight of the traveler willcreate a concave upper conformal area 12UC that will be spaced above thelower surface 12L, above the supports 102, 106 and above the pinch pointdefined by the gap 108. Additionally, the weight of the traveler will bedistributed and supported by upper parts of the viscoelastic cushion 12without a bottoming out that would occur if the viscoelastic cushion 12had a thickness, density, hardness and/or resiliency to be deformedmaximally. Thus, deformation of the top and bottom surfaces of theviscoelastic cushion 12 assures optimum support and weight distributionand isolates the traveler from the bothersome pinch points and hardpoints. Accordingly, the traveler can changed positions withoutdisengaging tissue that would otherwise have been squeezed into the gapsand other pinch points. Still further, the three dimensional support ofthe traveler achieved by the viscoelastic cushion 12 helps to dampentravel-related vibrations. Viscoelastic materials with different densityand hardness characteristics can be employed, but may require differentthicknesses.

The seating pad assembly 10 may be sold at retail stores (kiosks attransportation centers, kiosks at shopping centers, specialty giftstores, major retailers, etc), through catalogs (e.g. in-flightcatalogs), via television (shopping networks, infomercials, etc) or viathe Internet. The Internet transactions can be through a supplier's ownwebsite, other unaffiliated retail web destinations, mobile webdestinations, interactive outdoor sales via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi or touchscreen installations in public spaces. Additionally, the seating padassembly 10 may be sold, rented or otherwise offered to passengers inassociation with the offering of transportation services. For example,the seating pad assembly 10 can be offered to passengers as part of thecheck-in or seat selection process. Additionally the seating padassembly 10 can be offered and/or delivered to passengers after thepassengers have passed through security clearance points at an airport,in much the same way that goods are offered at duty free shops.Alternatively, the seating pad assembly 10 can be rented for delivery tothe passenger shortly prior to departure and for pick-up from thepassenger shortly after disembarking. The cover assembly 14 may beremoved and cleaned after each such rental.

The above-identified sale or rental procedures offered at an airport orother transportation terminal provide several very significantadvantages and efficiencies. For example, the ability to pick up apurchased or rented seating pad assembly 10 after arriving at thetransportation facility and preferably after passing through securitysignificantly reduces the amount of personal property that must becarried by the passenger enroute to the transportation facility. Theability to take possession of the seating pad assembly 10 after havingpassed through security simplifies and shortens the security procedure,thereby leading to a more efficient flow of passengers through security.Additionally, the seating pad assembly 10 need not be considered part ofthe luggage that can be carried onto a plane because the seating padassembly 10 need not be stowed in an overhead compartment or beneath aseat, and merely is positioned between the passenger and the existingseat on an airplane, train or other vehicle. The ability to takepossession of the seating pad assembly 10 prior to boarding the planehas other advantages as well. Specifically, the seating pad assembly canbe used by the passenger at the airport during the delays thatfrequently are encountered at airports. Thus, the seating pad assembly10 can be used to increase the comfort of inherently uncomfortable seatsin a transportation terminal. The seating pad assembly also can be usedon local transportation prior to reaching a final point of disembarking(e.g. an airport shuttle). The ability to return a seating pad assembly10 at the end of a trip reduces the amount of baggage that the passengerwill have to carry when leaving the airport or other transportationfacility.

In certain instances, the passenger may chose to own rights to a seatingpad assembly 10 but to possess the seating pad assembly 10 only whiletraveling or waiting to travel. For example, a person may provide proofof ownership of a seating pad assembly 10 prior to, during or after thecheck-in process at the transportation facility. An appropriatelydimensioned seating pad assembly 10 then will be made available to thepassenger for use during travel. The passenger may be charged an annualmaintenance fee or a maintenance fee per trip to cover cost associatedwith periodic cleaning of the seating pad assembly 10. These charges maybe collected by the airline or a separate business at the transportationterminal.

Still further, the offering of the seating pad assembly can be tied tofrequent flier programs. Thus, the seating pad assembly 10 can beoffered to passengers with a specified level of frequent flier status(e.g. gold, platinum, etc.). Similarly, the seating pad assembly 10 canbe purchased or rented with frequent flier points or miles, and thepurchase or rental of the seating pad assembly 10 can be used to triggercertain frequent flier benefits, such as points or related products orservices.

Referring to FIG. 20, a system 200 for ordering a seating pad assemblyto be used for a transportation seat is illustrated. The system 200includes a terminal, e.g., a user computer 202, a kiosk 204 or a mobileterminal 206, for accessing a server 208 over a communications network210, e.g., the Internet. The kiosk 204 can be a dedicated kiosk providedfor a purchase or rental of the seating pad assemblies. Alternatively,the kiosk 204 can be an automatic check-in terminal adapted to permit apassenger to request a seating pad assembly as part of the check-inprocess. The request for the seating pad assembly that is carried out aspart of the check-in process may generate a charge on the credit cardthat is use for the check-in process, a charge against frequent flyermiles for the account associated with the passenger and the airline or afree optional service for passengers with certain ticket categories(e.g. first class or business class). Other optional terminals caninclude telephones, cellular telephones or PDI's. The terminal 202, 204,206 and server 208 will communicate using any conventional architecture,for example a client/server architecture where the terminal will executea client application, e.g., a web browser, to access an applicationexecuting on the server 208. The terminal will access the server 208 toenable a user to order, e.g., purchase or rent, a seating pad assemblyof the present invention as will be described below. The server 208 willdetermine the dimensions, e.g., a width, length, and/or thickness, ofthe seating pad assembly based on the type of transportation seatpurchased, e.g., coach, business or first class. The server 208 willgenerate an order for the user to acquire the seating pad assembly. Theterminal will include a communication module 212 for communicating tothe remote server 208.

It is to be understood that the present invention may be implemented invarious forms of hardware, software, firmware, special purposeprocessors, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the presentinvention may be implemented in software as an application programtangibly embodied on a program storage device. The application programmay be uploaded to, and executed by, a machine comprising any suitablearchitecture such as a personal computer, a workstation or server 208.Preferably, the machine is implemented on a computer platform havinghardware such as one or more central processing units (CPU), a randomaccess memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM) and input/output (I/O)interface(s) such as a keyboard, cursor control device (e.g., a mouse orjoystick) and display device. A system bus couples the variouscomponents and may be any of several types of bus structures including amemory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. The computer platform alsoincludes an operating system and micro instruction code. The variousprocesses and functions described herein may either be part of the microinstruction code or part of the application program (or a combinationthereof) which is executed via the operating system.

In addition, various other peripheral devices may be connected to thecomputer platform of the machine by various interfaces and busstructures, such a parallel port, serial port or universal serial bus(USB). One such peripheral device may include a communications device,e.g., a modem, satellite relay, wireless connection, etc., for enablingcommunications from the server 208 to the various terminals 202, 204,206. Other peripheral devices may include additional storage devices ora printer 214 for printing generated work orders bearing instructions todeliver the seating pad assembly to an intended recipient.

It is to be further understood that, because some of the constituentsystem components and method steps depicted in the accompanying figuresmay be implemented in software, the actual connections between thesystem components (or the process steps) may differ depending upon themanner in which the present invention is programmed. Given the teachingsof the present disclosure provided herein, one of ordinary skill in therelated art will be able to contemplate these and similarimplementations or configurations of the present invention.

The terminals 202, 204, 206 and/or server 208 may operate in a networkedenvironment using logical connections to one or more remote computers.The remote computer may be a personal computer, a server, a router, anetwork PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallyincludes many or all of the elements described above relative to themachine. It is to be appreciated that the network 210 may be a localarea network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), the Internet or any knownnetwork that couples a plurality of computers to enable various modes ofcommunication via network messages. The terminal may communicate to theserver 208 and network 210 via any known communication link 216, forexample, dial-up, hardwired, cable, DSL, satellite, cellular, PCS,wireless transmission (e.g., 802.11a/b/g, etc.), etc. Furthermore, thedevices will communicate using the various known protocols such asTransmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), File TransferProtocol (FTP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), etc. During apurchasing transaction, the computing devices may employ HypertextTransfer Protocol Secure (HTTPs), Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Protocol,Secure Electronic Transaction (SEC) Protocol, etc.

In one embodiment, a traveler or purchaser of a transportation seatdesiring to acquire a seating pad assembly of the present invention willaccess server 208 via any available client, e.g., terminal 202, kiosk204, mobile terminal 206, etc. The purchaser will input into the clientan identifier indicative of a type of transportation seat purchased.This identifier may be a class of service of the seat purchase forexample coach, business or first class of an airline seat purchased. Theidentifier will be received by the server 208 and the server 208 willdetermine the proper seating pad assembly based on the type oftransportation seat purchased by interacting with database 218.Preferably, the proper seating pad assembly will include dimensions(including a width, length, and thickness) to ensure a proper fit of theseating pad assembly to the type of seat purchased as described above.The server will then generate an order to acquire the determined seatingpad assembly. In certain embodiments, the order will include an optionto purchase the seating pad assembly or to simply rent the seating padassembly for the particular route purchased. Next, the server willfulfill the generated order to complete acquisition of the seating padassembly. The purchaser may complete the transaction by providing theappropriate debit card or credit card information. Alternatively, thepurchaser may complete the transaction by providing a frequent flieraccount number and a predetermined number of frequent flier miles willbe debited from the purchaser's account.

In one embodiment, once the transaction is completed, the server 208will generate a work order and print out the work order at anappropriate terminal of the facility where the purchaser will begintheir trip. For example, where the transportation seat purchased is anairline seat, the work order will be printed out at the terminal wherethe purchaser is departing from. The seating pad assembly will beprepared and delivered to the purchaser at the terminal, for example,the seating pad assembly is delivered to the purchaser of thetransportation seat after the purchaser has passed through security atthe airport. If the purchaser has purchased the seating pad assembly,the purchaser will retain the seating pad assembly after the purchaserhas reached their destination. Otherwise, if the seating pad assemblywas rented, the seating pad assembly will be reclaimed from thepurchaser at a point of disembarkation.

In another embodiment, the server 208 will receive a second identifierindicative of a transportation seat provider, e.g., an airline carrier,from the purchaser. Based on the transportation seat provider, theserver 208 will further select a cover assembly for the seating padassembly bearing an indicia of the transportation seat provider. Thedetermined seating pad assembly and corresponding cover assembly will beprinted on the work order and the seating pad assembly will be assembledbefore delivering to the purchaser.

It is to be appreciated that the first identifier for the type of seatpurchased and the second identifier of the transportation seat providermay be entered in one session while communicating to the server. Forexample, where the terminal is a kiosk, the purchaser of atransportation ticket may scan the ticket at the kiosk and the kioskwill subsequently transmit the first and second identifier to the serverfor processing.

In another embodiment, a purchaser of a transportation ticket maypurchase the seating pad assembly while purchasing the initial ticketfor the seat. For example, a purchaser may purchase a ticket from aterminal by accessing a server 220 of the transportation seat providervia a conventional web site. While conducting the transaction forpurchasing the ticket, the server 220 of the transportation provider mayprovide a link to the server 208 to enable the purchaser to acquire theseating pad assembly. Alternatively, the server 208 may communicate withserver 208 and perform the transaction for the purchaser withoutadditional charge to the purchaser based on a preferred status of thepurchaser, e.g., a frequent flier, club member, etc.

While the invention has been described with respect to a preferredembodiment, it is apparent that various changes can made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims. In this regard, different length, width and thickness dimensioncan be provided in accordance with the preferences of the traveler andthe dimensions of the seat.

A rectangular seating pad assembly 10 offers several cost efficienciesand carrying efficiencies. However, nonrectangular pads can be provided.For example, notches can be provided at areas where seat belts extendfrom the seat. Additionally, areas that will be adjacent the knees andlower legs can be narrower than areas adjacent the hips or shoulders.

Still further, the extreme lower portion of the seating pad assembly 10can be configured to articulate more easily. Thus, a well defined hingeline may be defined substantially adjacent the flap 34 near the bottomend of the seating pad assembly 10. The flap 34 can be formed by anentirely separate piece of viscoelastic foam material that may beinserted into an entirely separate pocket of the outer cover 18 of thecover assembly 14.

Straps 20 with a VELCRO attachment were illustrated in the preferredembodiment. However, other forms of straps can be provided for holdingthe pad assembly 10 in a rolled condition. For example, strapsconfigured to be tied in a knot may be provided or straps with a simplebuckle can be provided.

The pad assembly 10 may further be provided with structure forreleasably affixing the pad assembly 10 to upper portions of the backsupport 106 of the seat 100. These attachments features can be straps,snaps or the like.

These variations and others will be apparent to persons skilled in thisart after having read this disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of enhancing passenger comfort on avehicle, comprising: providing a supply of rolled-up seating padassemblies conforming respectively to dimensions of seats in thevehicle, each of the seats having at least one concave region, eachseating pad assembly comprising a viscoelastic foam cushion and a coverremovably mounted around the viscoelastic foam cushion; selecting aseating pad assembly corresponding to dimensions of a particular seat onthe vehicle; unrolling the selected seating pad assembly onto the seatso that the seating pad assembly covers at least a hip/thigh support ofthe seat and at least a portion of a back support of the seat, andpositioning the seating pad assembly to cover the concave region so thatthe viscoelastic foam cushion is disposed for flowing into the concaveregion to enhance passenger comfort.
 2. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising collecting the seating pad assembly at an end of a trip inthe vehicle.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising rerolling thecollected seating pad assembly.